NGO Educates Atis on Child Sex Tourism

BORACAY ISLAND – An education campaign to promote children’s rights and stop child sex tourism was conducted in the Ati village community in this resort island on June 10, 2017.

The activity was spearheaded by ECPAT Philippines in partnership with the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC). Herwin John Provido, Boracay area development worker of ECPAT Philippines, said the activity is part of their continuing campaign to protect children in tourist areas in the country. As a tourist island, Boracay is a vulnerable area for child sex tourism, Provido said.

“The lecture aims to educate the community on children’s rights and on how to protect themselves from abuse, especially from foreign tourists,” Provido said. The same campaign was also conducted in Bohol, Palawan, Subic and Manila.

Aside from child sex tourism, the lecture also aimed to educate children on sexual abuse like prostitution, pornography and trafficking. Provido said after the lectures in the community, the same awareness campaign will also be conducted in different resorts and hotels on the island.

Meanwhile, Senior Police Officer 3 Christopher Mendoza, BTAC police community relations officer, stressed the importance of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on his lecture.

Mendoza likewise encouraged the community to report sex offenders and those that exploit children here.